Timing
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Joined: Jun 2017
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From: Yakima, WA Pacific Northwest
Year: 1990
Engine: 4.0 renix
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Yakima, WA Pacific Northwest
Year: 1990
Engine: 4.0 renix
It seems like the more info I gather on this subject the more the info conflicts are each other. Anyone know of a good write up on this I can read a few times and try to gain some clarity??
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
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From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 159
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From: Yakima, WA Pacific Northwest
Year: 1990
Engine: 4.0 renix
I'm at tdc right now. I can see the #1 piston flush if I shine a flashlight down the spark plug hole. Which brings us back to my original ?. Why on tdc is my mark on the crank sprocket not lining up. Right now it is 2 teeth back counter clockwise from being where i expected it (pointing to where the mark should be on the cam sprocket)
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 159
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From: Yakima, WA Pacific Northwest
Year: 1990
Engine: 4.0 renix
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Yakima, WA Pacific Northwest
Year: 1990
Engine: 4.0 renix
Let's clean this up a little...
I feel like things have gotten a little messy so I just want to recap. My focus is on the timing chain. I have successfully pulled and reinstalled the distributor in the past so I'm not concerned with it right now. I have #1 cylinder at tdc but the mark on the crank is 2 teeth back from where it should be when #1 is at tdc. I assumed the cam would be off from the crank because of the mishap with tryin to start it up with the wrench on the damper. But I didn't anticipated the crank sprocket being off from tdc on #1 cylinder
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,623
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From: In a large sandbox
Year: 1998
Engine: 4.0
Your confusion is understandable but if you did not remove the chain you're making this more difficult than necessary.
If you set the timing mark on the timing chain cover to "0" and the distributor was where it should have been and it was at TDC on the compression stroke, you are fine. Button it up and forget about why you believe the marks should be where you believe they should be. The marks only have to be as aligned with each other as close as possible on the compression stroke. They don't have to be perfectly aligned with each other.
If you set the timing mark on the timing chain cover to "0" and the distributor was where it should have been and it was at TDC on the compression stroke, you are fine. Button it up and forget about why you believe the marks should be where you believe they should be. The marks only have to be as aligned with each other as close as possible on the compression stroke. They don't have to be perfectly aligned with each other.
Last edited by 4WD4EVER; Apr 8, 2018 at 04:05 PM. Reason: Added info
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 47,923
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From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 47,923
Likes: 38
From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
Set marks like this note key way position count 15 links between marks. Then roll motor over to compression stroke tdc using finger over hole small screw driver in no1 hole will tell you en its at tdc . Dist can be installed if you think dampner has turned install new one.
Last edited by freegdr; Apr 9, 2018 at 05:32 AM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 159
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From: Yakima, WA Pacific Northwest
Year: 1990
Engine: 4.0 renix
I'm sorry if I'm fundraising anyone with my ignorance but I really want to get this right. When I line up the timing mark on the crank sprocket with the timing mark on the cam sprocket it is past tdc on cylinder #1. Is that cool?? I'm hesitant to go any further at the moment cuz it doesn't work seem right.
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
Likes: 1,578
From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
I'm sorry if I'm fundraising anyone with my ignorance but I really want to get this right. When I line up the timing mark on the crank sprocket with the timing mark on the cam sprocket it is past tdc on cylinder #1. Is that cool?? I'm hesitant to go any further at the moment cuz it doesn't work seem right.
Are you using the harmonic balancer to check the timing? The outer ring of the balancer can move and cause all sorts of issues.